"Just that, indeed. Were I to answer that she is as ugly as night, would you be curious to make her acquaintance? No, no, by the prophet!" "My name is Pelski; I am her cousin." "Oh, I am not her cousin at all!" The newly arrived frowned. "Either you do not understand me, or you are trifling." "Not at all, though Pani Visberg always insists that I am--But you are not acquainted with Pani Visberg. She is an excellent woman. She is distinguished by this, that she has a daughter, though it is nothing great to have a daughter; but she is as rich as Jupiter!" "Sir!" "Now I hear steps on the stairs,--Pan Yosef is coming surely. I will lay a wager with you that he is coming--" Indeed, the door opened and Yosef walked in. One would have said that his severe and intelligent face had matured in the last few hours; in its expression was the calm energy of a man who had already decided on the means of advance in the future. "This is Pan Pelski, Yosef," said Augustinovich. Yosef looked at the newly arrived inquiringly. Meanwhile Pelski explained to him the object of his coming; and though at news of the relationship of the young man to Lula his forehead wrinkled slightly, he gave him her address without hesitation. "I take farewell of you," said Yosef, at last; "the countess will be greatly delighted to find in you a cousin, but it is a pity that she could not have found a relative two months ago." Pelski muttered something unintelligible. Evidently Yosef's figure and style of intercourse imposed on him no little. "Why give him Lula's address?" asked Augustinovich. "Because I should have acted ridiculously had I refused." "But I did not give it." "What didst thou tell him?" "A thousand things except the address. I did not know whether thou wouldst be satisfied if I gave it." "He would have found the address anyhow." "Oh, it will be pleasant at Pani Visberg's. Wilt thou go there to-day?" "No." "And to-morrow?" "No." "But when?" "Never." "It is no trick, old man, to flee before danger." "I am no knight errant, I am not Don Quixote, I choose rather to avoid dangers and conquer than choose them and fall. Not Middle-Age boasting commands me, but reason." A moment of silence followed. "Wert thou at Helena's yesterday?" asked Augustinovich. "I was." "When will the marriage be?" "Right away after I receive my degree." "Maybe it is better for thee that the affair ends thus." "Why dost thou say that?" "I do not know but thou wilt be angry; but Lula--now, I do not believe her--" Yosef's eyes gleamed with a wonderful light; he put his hand on Augustinovich's shoulder. "Say nothing bad of her," said he, with emphasis. He wished, indeed, that the countess, torn from him by the force of circumstances, should remain in his mind unblemished. He took pleasure in thinking of her. "What am I to tell her when she asks about thee?" inquired Augustinovich, after a short silence.